Shock-absorber.



JULIUS F. HERBMANN, 0F INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

SHOCK-ABSORBER masses.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 26, 1912.

Application filed January 2, 1:512. Serial No. 669,050.

To all whom it may concemfl I Beat known that I, J ULIUS F. HERRMANN, acitizen of the United States, residing.at

Indianapolis, in the county of Marionand State of Ind ana, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Shockrkbsorbers, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This inventionrelates to shock-absorbers which are particularlyapplicable to motorcars and similar vehicles; and the object of theinvention is to provide simple and efficient means whereby the rate ofspeed of the rebound of the vehicle-body, when the wheels are passingover abrupt irregularities in the road, is gradually reduced, therebynot only insuring the occupants more ease and comfort in travel, butalso reduc-v ing theliability of breakage of the parts of the vehicle.

I accomplish the above object of the invention by means of ashock-absorber illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a parthereof, in which- Figure 1 is aside elevation of the shockabsorberattached to the supporting frame and the running-gear of a vehicle, oneof thecompanion arms of thelower portion of the shock-absorber beingbroken away to show the'internal mechanism located within the drum ofsaid absorber. Fig. 2 is a top or Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary.detail perspective view of one end of the main friction-spring. I

Referring to the drawings, the shock-absorber comprises a hollow drum 10pro-- vided on its outer periphery with an inte' grally formed arm 11,the outer end of which engages-a projecting bolt 12 which is formedintegrally with a bearing-plate 13 secured by means of the rivets 15 tothe base-rail 14:. The outer peripheral, ends of the drum 10 provide abearing for the caps 20 and 21, which are provided with annularlyextending flanges 22, the latter projecting over a portion of the outerperiphery of the drum 10, and the caps 20 and 21 are each provided withan integrally formed .arm which extends to and jointly engages the bolt26, formed integrally with the clip 21' which secures the several leavesof the spring 28. By this construction the drum 10 is supported at eachend by the caps20 and 21, and insures an equal distri bution of thestrain throughout the device when'welght is applied to the arnrll. Ac-

cidental displacement of the caps 20 and 21 from the endsof the drum 10is prevented by means of thestie-bolt 29. Tension is applied to thedevice, for preventing rapid reboundingof the vehicle-body, by means ofan open leaf spring 30, which is arranged concentrically within the drum10, the expanding tendency of the material comprising said springforcing said spring outwardly and tightly against the internal surfaceof said .drum 10. One end of the spring 30 is enlarged, as at 31, and isanchored to the caps 20 and 2lby means of a transverse-pin 32 (see Fig.3), and the opposite and free end of the spring 30 is preferably bentoutwardly and backwardly to form a V-shaped notch 37. A similar notch 37is formed at the rear of the enlargement 31, these notches being adaptedto receive and secure the ends of an additional spring 35, if deemednecessary to as sist the spring 30 in providing more tension. Bymountingone end of the spring 30 on the pin 32, which pin is anchored tothe caps 20 and 21, such mounting will cause said spring to mov ewiththe said caps and arms 25 in a direction opposite to that in which thedrum 10 moves. Hence, when the vehi- .said spring 30, so that acorresponding re duction in its tension exerting power against theinternal surface of the drum 10 is secured.

The construction of the shock-absorber is such that while permitting arapid descent of the vehicle-body, this movement will still be somewhatunder the influence of the spring 30, and will not he as free as if notension device were interposed between the vehicle-body andthe spring28, from the fact that the spring 30 still exerts a slight tensionagainst the drum 10. On the rebound of the vehicle-body the movementbetween the drum 10 and the caps 20, 21 and the spring 30 is such as tocause the spring to he expanded and, increase its "exertion againstthei-nternal surface of the drum 10. This increased tension of thespring 30 Wlll necessarily retard the up Ward movement, or rebound, oithe vehicle body, permitting said body to gradually re turn to itsuppermost position as defined by the vehicle-spring 28. In order tc freethatQpor t-ion of the spring gdhetween the pin 32 and the adjacentwallof the drum 10,; I lengthenwthej aperture 3% through which said vpin32-passes. The aperture 36 isflcut on at line which extends tangentiallyJ forced outward against the ad acent surltace vention; what I to theradius of .thedruin 10, as shown, so that-when the arm 11 moves downwardand thearx'ns 25move upward, to reduce the diameter of the spring 80,the end 01" said s rinv car in the enlar ement 31 will he movedtoreducethe pressure against th adjacent wall of the drum 10 on accountthe peculiar arrangement of the apertir 36,- and said spring 30 will heimmediat of the drum 1-0 when the'arms 11 and ilfi aremoved in theopposite direction. away from each other. The device is so" simpleand'its operation so easily understood that further descriptionisde'emed unnecessary.

Having thus -fully described my said indesire to secure by LettersPatent,.-*i's 1. In an apparatus for cushioning the rmeanspassing-transversely through one end.

of said tension device and adapted to engage andbe supported by'andmoving with said"caps,to expand "said tension device against said drum.

2.111 an apparatus forcushioning the relative movements: of a vehiclerunninggearand' body-frame,- a hollow drurn an i 3 i eaving wi h saidcaps axis of said drum, arms on said. cape a drum to engage both theframe and ran--- frame, caps surface of said d1.

, d gear. a tension it means psssin through. one end or ii adapted to.engage tension devioean he sn rgiertediley and crease the diameter of?said tension ole 3, in an for cusl'iini'nng gear and body-heme, a hollowdrmn, e arranged to move concentrically ahc t ti ning-gear ofthevehicle, yieldahle provided a internal surface of mid drum,-v in fromone cap te the otls e slot in said ension devi I device when meving anto an s l i)? cushioning relmovements of a vehicle runninggear andbody-frame; a hollow drains caps arranged to move concentrically aboutthe ax s or said drum, crimson. said caps and drum to hot-n the irameand running-gear ot the vehidlafyieldable means provided with a slotnotches and adapted i to bearagainst the internal surface of saiddrurimeans extendin from onecap to the other and thren'gh t e'slo't .insaid tension device, and an auxiliary tension device arranged within andcooperativelt engaging both. notches in said first tension device- -Iinwitness whereof, ,l'have hereunto set my hand. and" seal atllndianapolis, Indiana, this 16th oi December, Done thou sand ninehundred and eleven.

J HERQMANN. [as] "E' itnesses: l l "W; WOERNER, L. B; 'Wonmme.

said running a vehicle runnin

